Manufacture of cigarettes



June 20, 1944.

w. F. M. EDWARDS MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11,4 1941 IIII Il m T N E V m mw-.ff o' WFjM. EDWARDS W' M O-mh, I

ATTYS.

June 20, 1944. w. F. M. EDWARDS 2,351,748

MANUFA'CTURE OF CIGAREEIIES Filed Dec. l1, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvENToR WF. IVLEDWARDS` 3y A 5 5' V Ar'zrvsl June zo, 1944.

w. F. M.`l-:DwARDs :L 2,351,748 rvmzuFA'cKTuREl OF brc'iARETTES l Filed peo. 11`, 1941 n `s sheets-sheet :s

\I W (8 INVENToR W.F. M. EDWARDS Patented June 20, 1944 orifice e "MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES William Frederick LMaitland i Edwards, Esher, England, assigner 4to Fiiter Tips Limited,

London, England v Applicatin December 11, 1941', serial No. 422,576 In Great Britain Janixary 10, 1941 [12 cranes. (crm-e1) VThis invention relates to cigarettes and is particularly concerned with improvements in the manufacture of lter tip cigarettes utilising a machine of the continuous rod type. i

According to this invention amethod' is provided for the production of nlter tip cigarettes by the formation of spaces for the reception of filter tips in a tobacco filling, in which vtobacco is held positively by carrier members moving in succession, said members moving in a path a' part of which is a straight line, the tobacco is severed between each pair vof adjacent carrier membersand the severed portions are separated from one another by successive acceleration o f` each carrier member so that spaces are formedl whilst the carrier members are processed along a part of the straight portion of the path. Pref` erably the portions are released from the carrier members whilst they are moving along a straight portion of the path.

The invention further includes a machineforu manufacturing filter tip cigarettes whichl comprises a plurality of carrier membersvconstrained tomove in a path a .part of which is a straight line, means such as a hopperV for supplying tobacco to the carrier members, means for vholding the tobacco in the carrier members, means for severing the `tobacco between each pair of adjacent carriermembers, and means for successively accelerating each carrier'member so that spaces'l are formed .whilst the carrier membersl are proceeding along a part vof the straight por;y tionvroi?` the path. YPreferably also means are provided for releasing the Atobacco from jthe carrier members whilst they .are movingjalong a straight portion of. thepaltli..`v j.,

VAThe length of. tobacco `is Apreferably severed by means of knives such as areusually employed in tobacco machinery for cutting tobacco. 1 The tobacco may be severed into portions corre? sponding in length tothe tobacco portion of a lter tip cigarette and the space betweenadjacent severed` portions may be arranged to receive a singlelength of filter tip ymaterial. Preferably however the severed portions will correspond in Ylengthto the combined tobacco portions of two lter ,tip cigarettes and the space between adjacent portions will be arranged to receivea double length of filter tip material.

The lengths of lter tip material may be arranged by any desired means in the spaces between adjacent severed tobacco portions. Preferably the severed portions are transferred from the carrier members to a moving web of paper, and lengths of lter tip material are placed upon the Web at spaced intervals by known means before, at the same time as, or after the tobacco portion is transferred to theweb in such a way' thatthe lengths of iilter tip material lie in the required position. Y

If `desired the lengths of filter tip vmaterial and the tobacco portions which vare now in proximity to each other may be moved relatively to each other to effect abutment. i

.Theweb of paperis then folded around the tobacco*portions` and the lengths of iilter tip material to forma continuous rod inthe usual manner. Thereafter, also by known means, the' rod is cut at appropriate places vto form` cigarettes of the desired length. i x Themachine may .be disposed vertically, y horil z ontally or at any desired inclination.

The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accom-5.' panying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section of a machine according to the invention,

y Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line II-II of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line III--III of Fig. 1, e Fig. 4 is a side view of a part of a modied form of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of an individual carrier, Fig. 6 is a plan view of the cam tracks .25 taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3, and Fig. '7 is an inverted plan view of the cani tracks 25' taken on line l-l of Fig. 2. Referring to Figs. 1 toV 3 of the drawings, a continuous rod of tobacco I is fed from a hopper (not shown) by the usual conveyor belt 2 which passes it under compression wheels 3 and 4v and is urged forward by movement of the compression band 4a, the tension being varied by the tension spring 4b. The tobacco is fed successively to a number of carrier members 5 each of which is provided with a peripheral groove indicated generally by the numeral 6 for receiving the tobacco and each of which moves in 'a pair of endless tracks formed in the spaced supporting side plates 8' and 8 and which paths 'each consist of two parallel' straight portions 8d and Sb, one at the top and the other at the bottom of the machine joined by two semi-circular portions 8c and 8d of the same radius as a pair of sprocket wheels I!) and Il at one end and two similar wheels l0 and H' at the other end of the straight track portions 8a and 8b. The carrier members 5 are accelerated away from each other by cam means, more fully described here-V inafter, so that spaces are formed whilst the carrier members are passing along the lower straight portions 8b of the endless tracks.

As each carrier member reaches the beginning of the top straight parts 8a of the tracks it is in close proximity to the preceding carrier member, and the rod of tobacco is fed onto it whilst the exiblegripper member (more fully described hereinafter) is held open to receive it. Immediately afterwards the tobacco is rmly and positively held in the carrier member by means of this gripper member. The tobacco is thus held unti1 it is released as described below. As the tobacco rod is moved along the path of the carriers by the means hereinafter described, a reciprocating rotating knife I of the usual kind severs it between each pair of adjacent carrier members. Each carrier member is provided at each end with a pair of rollers 8, one on each side .of the carrier member which, in turn, run in track portions 8a and as the lcarrier members approach the semi-circular portions 8c of the track portions theseY rollers leave the track portions 8a and engage withV sprockets 9 of two sprocket wheels I and II positively driven by the shaft I2. On the straight parts 8a and 8b of the path each carrier member has the drive conveyed to it by the carrier member immediately behind vit by means of a cam I3 on the forward partof the carrier member immediately behind it which bearsonY a roller I4 carried by an arm IIa of a lever I1, said lever also being connected to another roller I5 running in a cam track I6 (whose function is described t hereinafter) the second mentioned roller I5 being pivotally connected to an intermediate part of the lever I'I whose other arm IIb'is pivcted by the part I8 to the middle of the lower side of the carrier member which is being driven.

As mentioned above one part of the lever I'I is pivoted to the roller I5 which runs inthe cam track IE. which followsthe general outline of the endless path of the carrier members 5 until vit is about to enter the lower straightline portions 8b of the tracks whereupon the cam 'track I'Ii moves downward and causes the roller IIIof the carrier member which is not immediately prior to this engaged by the' cam I3 te run down the face I3c of the cam I3 on the carrier `member immediately behind it (the action win be seen clearly by considering the cam rmembers I3a and I3b) thus givinggthe carrier member `5a `an acceleration away from the carrier member 5b immediately behind it, Vthe acceleration being such that the speed of a carrier member 5cv becomes equal to the linear speed of the paperweb I9 referred to below and causing a space 'I8' to form. At a predetermined point I8 the tobacco I is ejected from the carrier member byA means hereinafter described and it is then deposited upon the moving web of paper I9 fed `from a bobbin (not shown in the drawings) in the usual manner.

At the point I8" at which the tobacco is released the cam track I6 moves upwards with resulting deceleration of the carrier members and this continues until the trackY I6 reaches its normal spacing inwardly of the endless path of the carriers l5.

The action of the device by which the tobacco is ejected on to the paper is as follows:

The peripheral groove 6' of the carrier member 5 is formed by a layer of flexible material 2i) preferably a fabric constituting a gripper .member. The ends of the fabric are firmly held by opposed metal jaws 22 which are normally urged together by springs 23. At the point at which the tobacco is to be ejected the jaws 22 are drawn apart by the motion of a pair of gripper carrier rollers 24 connected respectively to the opposed jaws in passing over arcuate cam tracks 25. The drawing apart of the jaws causes the flexible material to tauten and eject the tobacco I. After ejecting the tobacco the gripper carrier rollers 24 reach the end of the cam tracks 25. The jaws 22 are then urged together by the action of the springs 23 and remain closed until they reach the arcuate cam tracks which act on the gripper carrier rollers 24 to open the jaws 22 to receive the tobacco. When the rollers 24 reach the end of the arcuate cam tracks 25' the jaws 22 are urged together by the springs 23 and grip the tobacco rod I.

.The paper I9 is gummed at spaced intervals by a gumming unit of the usual kind (not shown in the drawings) and wads 26'of twice the length required for 'a filter tip cigarette are deposited on the gummed portions of the paper from a wad hopper also of the usual kind (not shown in the drawings) leaving a space 2l between successive wads of substantially the same length as that of the cut sections 35 of the `tobacco rod held in the carrier members. A guide tape 28 serves to hold and align the wads on the paper and a heated platform y29 dries the gum and fixes the wads to the paper. The timing is such that each carrier member at the time it releases the tobacco is travelling at the same linear velocity as the paperfand so that the released portions of tobacco are deposited between the wads, The whole assembly then passes through a garniture of the usual kind (not shown in the drawings) and the continuous cigarette rod thus formed is divided into individual cigarettes by a knife (not shown in the drawings), inthe usual manner.

It will be understood that the shape of the cam track I6 ensures that each carrier member is accelerated and decelerated in turn and that the gaps will always occur in the same positions.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings which shows another means for conveying the drive from one carrier member to the next: Inthisk modified machine, two links 3l) and 3| are pivoted by the pivot 32 to the middle of the underside of each carrier member 5, the forward link 3l of one member being pivotally connected to the rear link of the carrier member immediately in front by a pivot 33 carryingra cam roller 34 moving in the cam track I6' of the ccng uration shown in the drawings.

Furthermore other releasing means for the tobacco may be employed, :for` example the means described in my applications Serial Nos. 344,581 and 352,460, which have issued as Patents 2,335,- '747 dated November 30, 1943, and 2,291,890 dated August 4, 1942, respectively.

I claim:

1. In a method for the production of lter tip cigarettes the steps of moving a continuous length of tobacco in a path a part of which is a straight line, severing the said length into portions, separating the portions from one another by successive acceleration of the portions so that spaces are formed between the portions whilst they are proceeding along a part of the straight portion of the path, and thereafter transferring the portions successively from the straight portion of the path to a moving web of paper carrying a plurality of lengths of filter tip material in such. a way that each tobacco portion is disposed vbetween two lengths of lter `tip material to form an assemblage of alternate tobacco portionsand portions of lter tip material.

2. A method for the production of lilter tip cigarettes which comprises moving a continuous length of tobacco in a path a part of which is a straight line, severing said length into portions, separating the portions from one another by successive accelerations of the portions so that spaces are formed between the portions whilst they are proceeding along a part of the straight portion of the path, thereafter transferring the portions `from the straight portion of the path to a moving web of paper carrying a plurality oi lengths of filter tip material in such a Way that each tobacco portion is disposed between two lengths of lter tip material to form an assemblage of alternate tobacco portions and portions of filter tip material, Wrapping and securing the web ci paper around the assemblage to form a continuous rod and dividing the said rod into lter tip cigarettes.

3. In a machine for manufacturing filter tip cigarettes the combination of a plurality of movable carrier members, means adapted to constrain said members to move in a path a part of which is a straight line, means for supplying tobacco to the carrier members, means for holding the tobacco in the carrier members, means for severing the tobacco between each pair of ladjacent carrier members, and means for successively accelerating each carrier member so that spaces are formed therebetween whilst the carrier members are proceeding along a part of the straight portion of the path.

4. In a machine for manufacturing lter tip cigarettes the combination of a plurality of movable carrier members, means adapted to constrain said members to move in a path a part of which is a straight line, means for supplying tobacco to the carrier members, means for holding the tobacco in the carrier members, means for severing the tobacco between each pair of adjacent carrier members, means for successively accelerating each carrier member so that spaces. are formed therebetween Whilst the carrier members are proceeding along a part of the straight portion of the path, and means for releasing the tobacco from the carrier members whilst they are passing along a straight portion of the path.

5. In a machine for manufacturing lter tip cigarettes the combination of a plurality of movable carrier members, means adapted to constrain said members to move in a path a part of which is a straight line, means for supplying tobacco to the carrier members, means for holding the tobacco in the carrier members, means for severing the tobacco between each pair of adjacent carrier members, means for successively accelerating each carrier member so that spaces are formed therebetween Whilst the carrier members are proceeding along a part of the straight portion of the path. and means for positively ejecting the severed portions of tobacco from the carrier members. i

6. In a machine for manufacturing lllter tip cigarettes the combination of a plurality of movable carrier members, means adapted to constrain said members to move in a path a part of which is a straight line, means for supplying tobacco to the carrier members, means for holding the tobacco in the carrier members, means for severing the tobacco between each pair of adjacent carrier members, means for successively accelerating each carrier member so that spaces are formed therebetween whilst the carrier members are proceeding along a part of the straight portion of the path, and means for transferring the severed portions of tobacco from the carrier members to a moving web of paper carrying a plurality of lengths of lter tip material thereon in such a way that the lengths of filter tip material and the portions of tobacco are disposed alternately.

7. In a machine for manufacturing lter tip cigarettes the combination of a plurality of movable carrier members, means adapted to constrain said members to move in a path a part of which is a straight line, means for supplying tobacco to the carrier members, clamping means for holding the tobacco in the carrier members, means for severing the tobacco between each pair of adjacent carrier members, means for successively accelerating each carrier member so that spaces are formed therebetween whilst the carrier members are proceeding along a part of the straight portion of the path, and means for releasing the severed portions of tobacco at a pre-determined point in a straight portion of said path.

8. In a machine for manufacturing lter tip cigarettes the combination of a plurality of movable carrier members, 'means adapted to constrain said members to move in a path a part of which is a straight line, means for supplying a continuous length of tobacco to the carrier members, clamping means for holding the tobacco in the carrier members, means for severing the length of tobacco between each pair of adjacent carrier members, means for successively accelerating each carrier member so that spaces are formed therebtween whilst the carrier members are proceeding along a part of the straight portion of the path, and means for positively ejecting the severed portions of tobacco at a predetermined point in a straight portion of said path on to a moving web of paper carrying a r plurality of lengths of lter tip material thereon in such a way that the lengths of lter tip material and the portions of tobacco are disposed alternately.

9. In a machine for manufacturing filter tip cigarettes the combination of a plurality of movable carrier members, each of said carrier members having a peripheral channel therein made of flexible material, means adapted to constrain said members to move in a path a part of which is a straight line, means for supplying a continuous length of tobacco to the carrier members, spring means for holding the flexible material in the shape of a peripheral channel enclosing the tobacco, means for severing the length of tobacco between each pair of adjacent carrier members, means for successively accelerating each carrier member so that spaces are formed therebetween whilst the carrier members are proceeding along a part of the straight portion of the path, and cam means adapted to open successively each of said peripheral channels against the action of the spring means so as to release the severed portions of tobacco at a predetermined point in a straight portion of said path.

10. In a vertically disposed machine for manufacturing lter tip cigarettes the combination of a plurality of movable carrier members, means adapted to constrain said members to move in a path a part of which is a straight line, means for supplying a continuous length of tobacco to the A carrier members, means for holdingr the tobacco carrier rlnembersineans for severing the length Soi tobacco between each pair oi adjacent carrier members, means for successively accelerating each carrier member so that spaces are foriied therebetween whilst the carrier members are proceeding along a part of the straight portion of the path, and means for releasing the tobacco froni the carrier members whilst'they are moving along a straight portion of the path. ll. Tin a machine for manufacturing filter tip cigarettes the combinationol a plurality of movablel carrier members, means adapted to constrain said members to move in a path a part of which is a straight line, means for supplying a continuous length o tobacco to the carrier niembers, means :for holding the tobacco in the carrier members, means for severing the length of tobacco between each pair of adjacent carrer inembers, carri means for successively aceelere g each carrier niein'oer so that spaces are formed tl'iereu between whilst the carrier ineinbers are proceeding along a part of the straight portion of the path, 'and means for releasing the tobacco frorn the carrier members whiist they are moving along a straight portion of the path.

12. A vertically disposed machine for manu factnring ilter tip cigarettes which comp-rises a plurality of movable carrier members each in the having therein a peripheral channel made of iiexible material and each provided with rollers adapted to run in a track consisting of two parallel straight portions joined by two semi-circular portions, means for supplying a continuous length of tobacco to said carrier members, spring means for holding said peripheral grooves in a normally closed position enclosing the tobacco, a knife for severing the length of tobacco between cach pair of adjacent carrier members, cani means for successively accelerating each carrier member so that spaces are formed therebetween whilst the carrier rnemfbers are proceeding along a part of the straight portion. of the track, carn means adapted to open successively each of the said peripheral channels against the action `of the spring means sofas to eject positively the severed portions of tobacco, rneans for supplying a moving web of paper having lengths of lter tip material disposed thereon at spaced intervals, the arrangement being such that the ejected portions of tobacco fall on to the web of so that each tobacco portion is disposed between two lengths oi lter tip material to forni assemblage oi alternate tobacco portions and portions of filter tip material, wrapping and seein ng means for 

